KIEV, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and visiting European Commission's Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis on Friday discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict and fresh aid for Kiev, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
Speaking at a press conference after their talks, Shmyhal said that Russia's attacks have disabled about 50 percent of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Due to the ongoing energy crisis, Ukraine needs more support from partners, including the supplies of energy equipment and additional financial assistance, Shmyhal said.
For his part, Dombrovskis said that the European Union (EU) plans to provide up to 18 billion euros (about 18.65 billion U.S. dollars) in financial aid to Ukraine next year.
The assistance is set to be approved next month, and Ukraine may receive the first tranche as soon as January 2023, Dombrovskis said.
Dombrovskis arrived in Kiev earlier in the day for talks with Ukrainian authorities. ■
